bookish christmas tag

Welcome to another installment of bookish Christmas here at Stardust and Words. Seeing as it is Christmas Eve Eve, I have taken it upon myself to post the Bookish Christmas Tag, which I found over at A Novel Glimpse. Take this time to reflect upon the books and bookish things that you have given and received during holidays past, and what you hope to receive in two days. Also, this will most likely be my last post for a week or so, so Happy Holidays to you all!

1. Father Christmas: Name a book you received as a child that you treasure to this day.

Probably my Harry Potter books that I received every Christmas until the seventh one came out! Though I now have three sets of those books, my battered and beaten originals are ones that I will always treasure. :) 

 

2. The Ghost of Christmas Past: Is there a book or series you like to revisit each year at Christmas time?

 Percy Jackson just is a comfortable, cozy thing to read at Christmastime for me. I don't even know why, because nothing about those books really reminds me of Christmas, but the feeling that they give me is something that I associate with this time of year. 

3. Friends and family: Name a book with fantastic characters.

Perhaps it is because I *just* finished it, but I'm going to say Winter by Marissa Meyer. The Lunar Chronicles in general are chock full of amazing characters that I would love to be friends with, but they all developed so much in the last novel, and I'm so proud of them. 

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4. Decorations: Name a book with a gorgeous cover you would proudly display on your shelves.

The Starbound trilogy. I think that these three novels have some of the most gorgeous covers that I've ever seen! 

5. Christmas cards: Name a book that carries a great message.

 All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, because I think it sheds light on a place that a lot of books tend to shy away from. Its brutal and real and sensitive in its depictions of mental illness, which I really appreciate. 

 

6. Ice and snow: Name a book that you were hoping to love but which ultimately left you feeling cold.

Fans of the Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa. I thought that this was going to be a really nice contemporary read, maybe with a deeper message to it, but the whole thing just gave me weird vibes, and I ended up barely finishing. 

7. Christmas lunch: Name a book that was big and intimidating but oh so worth it in the end.

A Game of Thrones because obviously all of the ASOIAF books are horrendously intimidating, but I ended up really enjoying the first book when I read it two years ago :) 

 

8. Mince pies: Name a book you found sweet and satisfying.

Most recently? First & Then by Emma Mills! I loved the Pride and Prejudice meets high school football aspect of it, and I found the characters to be really engaging, so I was caught up in their stories so much. 

9. Presents: What book do you wish you could give everyone to read?

Obviously my favorite series ever (besides Harry Potter) Throne of Glass! 

Merry Christmas Everyone!! 

xx
Sunny

books to read around christmas!

It's that time of year, folks!!! (okay, disclaimer: I celebrate Christmas. If you do not, I am terribly sorry, I hope this doesn't offend you!) THE BEST MONTH EVER. DECEMBER MEANS EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IS 100% DECKED OUT FOR CHRISTMAS. I am am unashamed lover of everything festive, so what better way to get into more holiday spirit than to discuss my favorite books to read around the holidays!

I did a post recently where I discussed books that have Christmassy scenes in them, which I will direct you to here. However, this is different: these are books that just *feel* like Christmas to me: whether it is because I always have read them over the holidays, the fact that they have a dark, muffled, winter feel, or because they give me warm fuzzies that remind me of the goodwill towards men thing that comes around Christmas. These are all perfect books to curl up with while sipping a warm beverage and enjoying a break before the new year :)

1. The Harry Potter Series

2. The Song of Achilles 

3. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe 

4. These Broken Stars 

5. A Little Something Different

6. Fangirl 

7. And We Stay

8. The Goose Girl 

9. The Book Thief 

10. The Book of Blood and Shadow

11. The Princess Bride

12. Saving Francesca 

13. Daughter of Smoke and Bone

14. Stardust

15. Instructions For A Broken Heart

16. My True Love Gave To Me 

17. Eragon

18. A Thousand Pieces of You

19. Vicious

20. Pride and Prejudice

What books get you in the holiday spirit? 

xx

sunny

a week of recommendations: day two

 Welcome to Day 2 of A Week of Recommendations! Today we are discussing our picks for sci/fi & fantasy, and I am so excited to share my picks for this theme. 

I always was a fan of fantasy, in the vague, "I like Harry Potter so if I read a few more books like that I'd be happy" kind of way. Never did I actually seek out new books in the genre, nor was I terribly adventurous in the fantasy books that I did read. Slowly, though, over the past year, I have been getting more into this amazing genre, and I have ready some truly incredible fantasy stories over the past couple of months. I'll refer you to my super long post which can serve as a guide to getting into fantasy here. Sci/fi is spottier for me. I have to really be in the mood for something that is sci/fi, and as such I haven't read much of it. But I do really enjoy the ones I have read, so there are a couple for you on this list.

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas 

This is an eventual six book series, with the fourth installment coming out in September (SQUEE), but for today, I'm just recommending the first book in the series. Throne of Glass is set in a world where magic is forbidden, a power-mad king rules over races of people whom he treats like slaves, and one girl, one assassin, has been locked away in the salt mines for the rest of her life. Until she isn't. This is one of my favorite series, I love the characters and the world, and they are so action packed that I think everyone would be able to get into them. 

2. Princess in the Opal Mask – Jenny Lundquist

This book takes place in a fairy tale world, but it isn't a retelling. It is about two sisters, both princesses, separated at birth so that one thinks she is a mere commoner. The sister who stays princess always wears an opal mask, but why? When they meet, intrigue and plots and court life make everything complicated. This is a shorter fantasy novel, unlike most of the ones I've read, but that doesn't take away from its quality. The world is nicely built up, and there is also a sequel that I have not yet read. 

3. These Broken Stars – Amy Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

One of my most successful forays into sci/fi, this book has been described as "titanic, in space." And indeed it is about a rich girl and a poor soldier meeting and feeling attracted to one another, all the while aboard a luxury "spaceliner." And that spaceliner does indeed crash. But when they survive, the similarities end, and they are stranded on a deserted planet with no idea how to live, let alone be rescued. 

4. Zodiac – Romina Russell 

I just recently finished this one, and I have to say, the world is very original and interesting. Zodiac takes the twelve houses of the zodiac and turns them all into actual houses, with planets and people who are all different. When threats comes to the houses, with disasters striking right and left, a girl from Cancer determines that these threats are coming from a long-lost 13th house, and sets off with a solider and a diplomat from Libra to save their universe. 

5. Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard 

This is another recent finish for me, and I have a full review here. I have been pitching this to everyone as a Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones meets like X Men type thing. The world is nicely paced, with a very clear disparity between the reds, basically enslaved and poor workers, and the silvers, who are royalty with powers. But Mare is a red, and Mare has powers, and when the silvers find out, she finds herself thrust into a palace intrigue that could cost her her life. 

What are some of your fantasy and sci/fi picks? especially sci/fi because I'm always looking for more sci/fi to read. 

xx

Sunny

january wrap-up

I think wrap-ups are a good way to keep track of what you read and when you read it over the course of a year. I also like to look back and see how the last month of my life has been, reading-wise. Therefore, I present to you my January wrap-up.

I read a total of nine books in the month of January, which was a little less than I wanted, but it was still a pretty stellar month in terms of reading!

1. Until Midnight – Melissa Landers ☆☆☆☆
(spoilers!) Cara and Aelyx only have one day to spend together before he returns to earth and she travels to Aelyx's home planet, L'eihr. Homesick and worried about the upcoming year apart, Cara is desperate to make these final hours count. Worst of all, Cara is missing Christmas, stuck on board an alien spaceship. When Aelyx learns that Cara is forgoing her favorite holiday, he tries to recreate Christmas in space by researching traditional earth customs…but a few things get lost in translation.
 

 2. Heir of Fire – Sara J Maas  ☆☆☆☆☆
(MAJOR spoilers!!)  
Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

3. On the Fence – Kasie West ☆☆☆☆
For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.
To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

4.  Humans of New York – Brandon Stanton ☆☆☆☆☆
In the summer of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton set out on an ambitious project: to single-handedly create a photographic census of New York City.  Armed with his camera, he began crisscrossing the city, covering thousands of miles on foot, all in an attempt to capture New Yorkers and their stories.  The result of these efforts was a vibrant blog he called "Humans of New York," in which his photos were featured alongside quotes and anecdotes.
Humans of New York is the book inspired by the Internet sensation. With four hundred color photos, including exclusive portraits and all-new stories, Humans of New York is a stunning collection of images that showcases the outsized personalities of New York.
Surprising and moving, Humans of New York is a celebration of individuality and a tribute to the spirit of the city.

5. Defy – Sara B Larson ☆☆☆☆
Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.
The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

6. Ignite – Sara B Larson  ☆☆☆☆
(spoilers!!) 

Murder, abductions, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY.

Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

7. The Chaos of Stars (re-read) – Kiersten White ☆☆☆☆☆
 
Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy, is back with The Chaos of Stars—an enchanting novel set in Egypt and San Diego that captures the magic of first love and the eternally complicated truth about family.
 
Isadora's family is seriously screwed up—which comes with the territory when you're the human daughter of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Isadora is tired of living with crazy relatives who think she's only worthy of a passing glance—so when she gets the chance to move to California with her brother, she jumps on it. But her new life comes with plenty of its own dramatic—and dangerous—complications . . . and Isadora quickly learns there's no such thing as a clean break from family.

8.  The Year I Turned Sixteen – Diane Schwemm ☆☆☆

 Turning sixteen is an unforgettable milestone, and each of these four sisters has her own story to tell. Rose, the oldest, feels like she has the most responsibility when her father dies, and yearns to be true to herself. Daisy wants to break free from her family, but trouble arises when she falls for a bad boy. Laurel struggles with the loss of a close relative and finds herself drawn to a boy who may actually understand. And Lily, the youngest sister, feels like nothing could be more difficult than actually being herself. These four books in one special bind-up make for a great value—and an even better read.

9. These Broken Stars – Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner ☆☆☆☆


Luxury spaceliner Icarus suddenly plummets from hyperspace into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive -- alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a cynical war hero. Both journey across the eerie deserted terrain for help. Everything changes when they uncover the truth.






So what did you guys read in the month of January?

xx
Sunny

sunday summations

This is an old series that I've chosen to revamp. Sunday Summations is a time where we discuss what we've read in the past week and our goals for the next week!

Last week I finished Ignite by Sara B Larson (4 stars), re-read the Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White (5 stars), read The Year I Turned Sixteen by Dianne Schwemm (3 stars) and re-read These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (4 stars).

Today, my friend Violet and I will begin our readalong of Frostfire by Amanda Hocking, which I am super excited for! The Trylle trilogy were some of my favorite books of 2013, so I can't wait to get back into that world. I have also just begun Splintered by A.G. Howard. I've been meaning to pick up the series for a while, and now that I have attained the conclusion to the trilogy, I am planning on marathoning Splintered, Unhinged and Ensnared this week. Those are tentative goals, though, because I'm also working on something very exciting...

I've just finished planning and workshopping a new novel idea! So, this week will be the first bit of actual writing involved, which I'm very excited about. That being said, I might not have as much time for reading as I'd like, but this is such an exciting thing that I don't mind it that much.

So, what have you guys read this past week, and what are you planning on reading this coming week?

judging books by their covers

Admit it. It's something we all do. As much as we want to claim that we are fair and objective when it comes to books, everyone forms opinions about books based on how they look. That's why we cringe so much when bad covers happen to good books, and when covers change to something that we don't think represents the story. It's also why we happy-tears cry over covers that are just so gorgeous they HURT.
I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. There are so many amazing YA books out there today, there is no way you can walk into your local bookstore and spend hours combing through the section, reading every single synopsis and ignoring the covers. I think covers are our first filter for the books we think we might like. I know I am definitely drawn to certain books over others because they have a pretty or interesting cover. And most of the time, my cover senses end up being pretty dead on in picking good books. So, maybe not such a bad thing, as long as we don't completely rule out books that don't have those amazing covers.
I thought I would share a few of my most favorite covers!

Best

1. These Broken Stars and This Shattered World – Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

2. Throne of Glass Series – Sarah J Maas

3. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Benjamin Alire Sáenz

4. I'll Give You The Sun – Jandy Nelson

5. The Chaos of Stars – Kiersten White 

6. The Grisha Trilogy – Leigh Bardugo

7. Starry Night – Isabel Gillies

8. Unspoken – Sarah Rees Brennan (a cover change I will NEVER FORGIVE)

9. The Fault In Our Stars – John Green

10. A Thousand Pieces of You – Claudia Gray











Those are just a few of my personal favorites. Let me know some of yours!

xx
Sunny

highly anticipated books of 2015

it only feels natural to follow up a 2014 wrap up with a 2015 look ahead. there are so many books that I am looking forward to this year, so this is just a sampling of the ones that I am biting my nails until the release date.